The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-14
THE DEMPSEY-REAGAN MILL
4 Stubborn and Desperate Struggle for
the Middle Weight Championship.
Reagan Fights Gamely. but Is Overmatched
by Dempsey, and His Backers Throw Up
the Sponge in the Forty Fifth Round.


Johnny Reagan met this morning within 100
miles of New York, up the Hudson to decide IN
= fight to finish, under the London prize-ring
rules, for $1,000 stake money. the middle
weight championship OF America. 1t the
third attempt that had been made to pull off this
fight, the frat being on Saturday morning at
Islip. l.. l., and which was prevented by the
authorities The second was on Monday morn
ing in the vicinity of Flushing, L. l., and WAS
prevented by fog SO dense that the principals
could not leave this city on the boat chartered
to take them to the battle ground. Last night
all those who intended to so to the fight were
on the qui vive. and the ruses to throw people
off were many. Between 1870 and IL p. NJ.
North-river dock contained the chosen few who
were privileged to see the mill. About twenty
embarked on q chartered tug, which left the
dock precisely at IL o'clock The run to the
battle-ground was uneventful the principals GO
ing TO bed for final snooze before the struggle
At 6:45 A. N. the ground was reached. and the
work of pitching the ring was at once begun.
The selection Of the spot proved to be most I'M
fortunate. It should have been higher
ground and further away from the water. Un-
der the circumstances adjournment was
found to necessary after few rounds had
been fought. At 1888 the ring was completed
It was of the regulation dimensions. twenty
; four feet square, having two ropes stretched
through sight posts. The men were
not slow in their preparations, and
at Sis A. M. Reagan appeared walk
ing from the the boat to the ring,
and. having thrown his cap into the ring. jumped
in after ii. He was followed by his trainer. Bob
Smith Dempsey followed almost on his heels,
casting his square-topped derby hat before him
last stood face to face and those who the
eight rounds fought there between the two will
not soon forget them.
The umpire for Reagan tossed 500 gold
piece for choice of corners The umpire for
Dempsey called "tails" and won. He chose the
corner which put the sun at Dempsey's back and
in Reagans eyes. While the men were stand-
ing in the ring they chatted smilngly with one
another before they went to their
ners to make final preparations. Dempsey
came out first He wore blue tights,
blue socks, and fighting shoes with vamps seven
inches high upon the ankles. He did not have
the fingers of his gloves cut. Reagan wore
white tights and regulation fighting shoes His
shoes were objected to on account of the spikes
being too the toe of the shoe, but were
finally allowed to be used. Reagan wore silk
handkerchief with blue dots for his color,
Dempsey having a dark-colored silk handker-
chief with checks. Dempsey was seconded by
Denny Costigan and Billy Madden. John Muir
ply of6ciated with the bottle Reagan was
looked after by Bob Smith, his trainer, and
Mike Costello. Mike Donovan also in his
corner. Denny Costigan offered to bet $500 to
$3.50 that Dempsey would win. but found no
takers
At $50 o'clock q Maltese cross was formed by
the principals and seconds, and two minutes
later the fight began. From the outset Reagan
was oyermatched by Dempsey in wrestling.
In the first round the men faced each other.
smilingly. After good deal OF sparring and
feinting, Reagan led short with his left at Demp-
sey's stomach. Dempsey was away from him in
instant but came back and landed his left on
Reagan 8 cheek with great force. Reagan then
rushed his man and let fly his left again without
landing. Then both cinched, and terrific in light
ing ensued. Reagan made play on Dempseys
kidneys The latter succeeded in back heeling
his antagonist and fell heavily upon him. This
ended the first round.
Second round-Both spared for an opening,
and then clinched. Dempsey claimed that
Reagan was fouling him by spiking. The ref
cree at once cautioned Reagan against such
practice. The round ended by Dempsey again
back heelng and falling heavily on Reagan.
Third round-The men showed great tactics,
but Dempsey outgeneraled his man. Reagan,
in one of the rushes he made, accidentally
spiked Dempsey in a terrible manner on his left
leg. The bone could be seen, the cut being
deep There was considerable wran Cling
Dempsey's umpire claiming the fight The ref
cree, however, overlooked it.
Fourth round-Reagan opened this round by
landing his left on Dempsey's stomach The
men got to close quarters, and in-fehting
became the order. and was INDUCED in fast and
furiously until the clinched, and Reagan
threw Dempsey.
Fifth Round-The tide, which was we'll on
the flow, began to creep into the ring. and
Dempsey compelled to move partly out of
his corner. Still the men fought on desperately,
when once more Dempsey succeeded in back
heeling Reagan, and again fell heavily upon
him.
Sixth Round-The men were again at it
promptly. This time the blows were the hardest
and most scientific delivered during the fight.
the ring, gave both contestants much trouble
Both were exasperated. Reagan rushed at
Dempsey, and in the clinch that followed threw
him heavily to mother earth.
Seventh Round--As the belligerents faced
each other Dempsey let 60 wicked blow with
his left, which Reagan barely escaped by duck
two or three inches deep all over the ring, but
the apparently fought all the harder.
Dempsey's leg was in q terrible condition He
had handkerchief tied over the wound, and as
IL panied him he began. if possible. to fight all
the harder. Dempseys friends, observing his
condition, renewed their wrangle and objected
to the fighting in the water. The excite
ment at this time ran high both sides.
Dempsey wanted to continue the fight where he
was, and his friends tried to persuade him TO
stop and have the ring pitched in other
place. He said no. and the fight went on.
Eighth Round-The men fought in the wator
all over the ring Reagan kept on leading
short with his left hand, but landed occasion
ally on Dempsey.
Then the referee. amid great excitement. or
dered the men TO snake hands and go back to
the boat until another ring could be pitched on
dry land. The time occupied by the first eight
rounds was fifteen minutes Reagan left the
ring very confident of winning Both went to
the boat took off their wet clothes and went to
bed. The wrangliug between the parties con-
tinued long and loud The referee finally de-
clded to take all on board and go to another
place. and at 10l5 A. NJ. the fight was resumed
in q much better ring.
Ninth Round--Denpsey went right at Reagan
and a cliuch ensued during which terrific in
fighting was done. the round ending by Demp-
sey back heeling Reagan and going down with
him heavily.
Tenth Round-Dempsey started to make his
running" He smashed Reagan the ribs
with his left and on the with his right,
with frightful force, drawing blood. which was
claimed but not allowed for Dempsey, Rea-
gan got first blood in the seventh round. Rea-
gan camee back for Dempsey's stomach with his
left, but was short Dempsey sent in a hot one
,n his own account Reagan fought hard and